--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God ordered Abraham to make a burnt…" description: "\"“God ordered Abraham to make a burnt offering of his longed-for son. Abraham built an altar, put firewood upon it, and trussed Isaac up on top of the w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/richard-dawkins-115_child-abuse_god-ordered-abraham-to-make-a-burnt-offe_1392652.jpg" --- # God ordered Abraham to make a burnt offering of his… ![“God ordered Abraham to make a burnt offering of his longed-for son. Abraham built an altar, put firewood upon it, and trussed Isaac up on top of the wood. His murdering knife was already in his hand when an angel dramatically intervened with the news of a last-minute change of plan: God was only…” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/richard-dawkins-115_child-abuse_god-ordered-abraham-to-make-a-burnt-offe_1392652.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/richard-dawkins-115_child-abuse_god-ordered-abraham-to-make-a-burnt-offe_1392652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/richard-dawkins-115_child-abuse_god-ordered-abraham-to-make-a-burnt-offe_1392652.jpg) > ““God ordered Abraham to make a burnt offering of his longed-for son. Abraham built an altar, put firewood upon it, and trussed Isaac up on top of the wood. His murdering knife was already in his hand when an angel dramatically intervened with the news of a last-minute change of plan: God was only joking after all, 'tempting' Abraham, and testing his faith. A modern moralist cannot help but wonder how a child could ever recover from such a psychological trauma. By the standards of modern morality, this disgraceful story is an example simultaneously of child abuse, bullying in two asymmetrical power relationships, and the first recorded use of the Nuremberg defence: 'I was only obeying orders.' Yet the legend is one of the great foundational myths of all three monotheistic religions.”” [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Abraham narrative illustrates how obedience to divine command can be interpreted as moral transgression, raising questions about faith, authority, and ethical responsibility. **In simple terms:** Blind obedience can be morally problematic. Key Takeaway Question authority and its moral implications. Themes faith obedience morality authority mythology Mood critical analytical skeptical Type theological ethical philosophical When to use this quote - religious education - legal defense - parental discipline - military orders Key Concepts theology ethics psychology historical criticism Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile faith with modern ethics? - Can obedience ever be justified? A Different Perspective The story may be viewed as a cultural artifact rather than a literal moral guide. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) [Change Of Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-of-plan/) [Child abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-abuse/) ## Related quotes > [And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-ye-shall-offer-a-burnt-offering-for-a-sweet-savour-unto-the-lord/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“I think God wants to make me pure gold, so He is burning out the dross, teaching me the meaning of the fire, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/i-think-god-wants-to-make-me-pure-gold-so-he-is-burning-out-the-dross/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-on-the-sabbath-day-two-lambs-of-the-first-year-without-spot-and/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-king-ahaz-commanded-urijah-the-priest-saying-upon-the-great-altar/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-their-drink-offerings-shall-be-half-an-hin-of-wine-unto-a-bullock/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-on-the-fifteenth-day-of-the-seventh-month-ye-shall-have-an-holy/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/after-this-manner-ye-shall-offer-daily-throughout-the-seven-days-the/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering: And he shall offer the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-the-priest-shall-bring-them-before-the-lord-and-shall-offer-his/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-ye-shall-offer-with-the-bread-seven-lambs-without-blemish-of-the/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-he-burnt-his-burnt-offering-and-his-meat-offering-and-poured-his/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-biltz/command-aaron-and-his-sons-saying-this-is-the-law-of-the-burnt/) [Mark Biltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-biltz/) > [And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-one-kid-of-the-goats-for-a-sin-offering-unto-the-lord-shall-be/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-the-fourth-part-of-an-hin-of-wine-for-a-drink-offering-shalt-thou/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-ye-shall-have-on-the-tenth-day-of-this-seventh-month-an-holy/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein: But ye shall offer a burnt offering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/on-the-eighth-day-ye-shall-have-a-solemn-assembly-ye-shall-do-no/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) ## More by Richard Dawkins > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“The fundamentalist Kurt Wise proclaims that all the evidence in the universe would not change his mind. The true scientist, however passionately he may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-fundamentalist-kurt-wise-proclaims-that-all-the-evidence-in-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Religions do make claims about the universe--the same kinds of claims that scientists make, except they're usually false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/religions-do-make-claims-about-the-universe-the-same-kinds-of-claims/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“much of the Bible is not systematically evil but just plain weird, as you would expect of a chaotically cobbled-together anthology of disjointed documents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/much-of-the-bible-is-not-systematically-evil-but-just-plain-weird-as/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The recurrent laryngeal nerve - which runs from the head to the voice box - goes all the way down into the chest, loops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-recurrent-laryngeal-nerve-which-runs-from-the-head-to-the-voice/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The Roman Catholic Church is an institution for whose gains the phrase "ill-gotten" might have been specially invented. And of all its money-making rip-offs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-roman-catholic-church-is-an-institution-for-whose-gains-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Let us understand what our own selfish genes are up to because we may then at least have the chance to upset their designs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/let-us-understand-what-our-own-selfish-genes-are-up-to-because-we-may/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [What's going to happen when I die? I may be buried, or I may be cremated, I may give my body to science. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/what-s-going-to-happen-when-i-die-i-may-be-buried-or-i-may-be/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We have seen that living things are too improbable and too beautifully 'designed' to have come into existence by chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-have-seen-that-living-things-are-too-improbable-and-too/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“We will not go quietly away. If in the future that requires violence”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-will-not-go-quietly-away-if-in-the-future-that-requires-violence/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It's a truly disgusting idea that the creator of the universe - capable of inventing the laws of physics and designing the evolutionary process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-s-a-truly-disgusting-idea-that-the-creator-of-the-universe-capable/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Explore all 1,239 Richard Dawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More Abraham quotes > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Hebron is a bone of contention between Israeli settlers and the Palestinians in part because Abraham is buried there, in the Tomb of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/hebron-is-a-bone-of-contention-between-israeli-settlers-and-the/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nominee-because-we-are-not-going/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“Never you look down on your Abraham because of your Sarah because the blessing is not in the womb of Sarah but in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-izuakor/never-you-look-down-on-your-abraham-because-of-your-sarah-because-the/) [Ikechukwu Izuakor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-izuakor/) > [“Whatever you are, be a good one.”   Abraham Lincoln”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rriiver-nyile/whatever-you-are-be-a-good-one-abraham-lincoln/) [Rriiver Nyile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rriiver-nyile/) > [Moses was a great leader, right? But he wasn't a great communicator. And so God sent him Aaron so he could, let's say, communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/moses-was-a-great-leader-right-but-he-wasn-t-a-great-communicator-and/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [“king of Heshbon. 6 b Moses, the servant of the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/king-of-heshbon-6-b-moses-the-servant-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the end, thought Sol, past logic and hope, it is dreams and the love of those dearest to us that form Abraham’s answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/in-the-end-thought-sol-past-logic-and-hope-it-is-dreams-and-the-love/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [It was psychobabbler Abraham Maslow who wrote of the phenomena of self-actualization. What Maslow failed to grasp is that reaching true self-actualization can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/it-was-psychobabbler-abraham-maslow-who-wrote-of-the-phenomena-of/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [“Mungu hutumia watu 'wajinga' na 'wapumbavu' kufanya mambo makubwa katika maisha yao na ya watu wengine. Katika Biblia, Musa aliitwa mjinga alipokiuka amri ya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-hutumia-watu-wajinga-na-wapumbavu-kufanya-mambo-makubwa-katika/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [“9. Abraham’s death (25:1 – 11) After Sarah’s death, Abraham took another wife, Keturah. Abraham was a rejuvenated old man and continued to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-sailhamer/9-abraham-s-death-25-1-11-after-sarah-s-death-abraham-took-another/) [John H. Sailhamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-sailhamer/) > [“The biblical story of the binding of Isaac shows that human sacrifice was far from unthinkable in the 1st millennium BCE. The Israelites boasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-biblical-story-of-the-binding-of-isaac-shows-that-human-sacrifice/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Everybody faces obstacles. And I looked to people who had been through many to succeed in life. Abraham Lincoln, born to a poor family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/everybody-faces-obstacles-and-i-looked-to-people-who-had-been-through/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [Someone asked me...how it felt and I was reminded of a story that a fellow townsman of ours used to tell--Abraham Lincoln. They asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-asked-me-how-it-felt-and-i-was-reminded-of-a-story-that-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [American foreign policy and military might have opened an opportunity for the Gospel in the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/american-foreign-policy-and-military-might-have-opened-an-opportunity/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) [Browse all 484 Abraham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“God ordered Abraham to make a burnt offering of his longed-for son. Abraham built an altar, put firewood upon it, and trussed Isaac up on top of the wood. His murdering knife was already in his hand when an angel dramatically intervened with the news of a last-minute change of plan: God was only joking after all, 'tempting' Abraham, and testing his faith. A modern moralist cannot help but wonder how a child could ever recover from such a psychological trauma. By the standards of modern morality, this disgraceful story is an example simultaneously of child abuse, bullying in two asymmetrical power relationships, and the first recorded use of the Nuremberg defence: 'I was only obeying orders.' 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